Operating device for slip-switches.



No. 822,657. PATENTED JUNE@ 1906. L. DUNN.

OPERATING DEVICE POR SLIP SWITCHES.

APPLIOATION FILED 1120.4, 1905.

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PATENTEI) JUNE 5, 1906.

L. DUNN.

OPERATING DEVICE POR SLIP SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED BECA, 1905.

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UNTTED sTATns PATENT orrron.

LOUIS DUNN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH STRAWHORN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed December 4,l 1905. Serial No. 290,084.

To oir/ZZ wwwz/ it may concern;

Be it known that I, LoUis DUNN, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Devices for Slip-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of a slip-switch it has been customary heretofore to provide horizontally-arranged rods beside the track having depending integral lugs connected with the switch-points. The connections between these lugs and the points are sometimes made adjustable by means of adjustable head-rods to permit the wear of the joints to be taken up. It happens, however, with each adjustment the travel of the points is lessened until iin ally one of them, while in its normal in operative position, is so near the track-rail that it will catch the flange of the passing wheel and cause the derailment of the train. Furthermore, the integral lugs are frequently struck by the passing train and broken off, and when that occurs the entire rod is worthless and usually is disconnected from the switch and thrown away.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide means whereby the wear of the joints between the operating-shaft and the switchpoints can be taken up or compensated for without decreasing the normal travel of the points or leaving them, when in their inoperative or dead position, so-near the track-rails as to endanger a passing train.

A further object is to provide suitable means connecting the switch-points and the operating-rod or rocker-shaft, whereby the life of the latter may be indefinitely prolonged.

My invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a combination slip-switch crossing embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a portion of the switch, illustrating the operating means for the switch-points. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the operating-shaft looking down on the top of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the said shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing means whereby the ordinary shaft may be utilized in carrying out my invention. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the ordinary shaft. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of form of shaft illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, 2 represents a combined slip-switch crossing having the usual switchstand 3, provided with parallel rocker-shafts 4, through which the switch-points are operated from the stand. I have shown in Fig. 2 a pair of these shafts connected with the opposite switch-points but as their operation is substantially the same I will in the following specification refer to and describe but one of them.

5 represents the switch-points having a head-rod 5 and adjustable connections 6 with a rod 7, to which the rocker-shaft 4 is attached. These adjustable connections allow thedistance between the switch-points and the rock-shaft to be increased or decreased; but the operator cannot by means of these connections change the throw or travel of the connecting-rod to take up the wear of the joints without lessening the travel of the points. In some cases an adjustable headrod is provided; but this only changes the travel of the points without removing the objection of having them brought so near the track-rail as to render liable the derailment of a passing train. In the drawings herewith the ordinary adjustment between the connecting-rod and the head-rod is shown g but the latter is illustrated as non-adjustable. In the ordinary form of switch the rocker-shaft is provided with a depending lug 8, to which the connecting-rod 7 is pivotally connected. In place of this lug, where the ordinary rockershaft is utilized without being specially made for the purpose, I provide a collar 9, shrunk or Welded on the shaft and having a hole l() bored directly therethrough to receive an eyebolt 1l, which is threaded and provided with lock-nuts 12, arranged on its shank above and below the rocker-shaft. The shank of the bolt is adapted to slide freely in the hole 10, and its eye may be adjusted toward or from the shaft by the movement of the lock-nuts on the shank of the bolt. The connecting-rod 7, extending from the switchpoints, is pivotally connected with the eyebolt ll by a pin 13. f

The oscillation of the rocker-shaft 4 will swing the eyebolt back and forth, and the degree of travel lengthwise of the connectingrod will depend upon the arc described by the lower end of the eyebolt, and the length of IOO aXis oi' the rocker-shaft.

this arc will depend, of course, upon the distance the eye of the bolt or the point where the connecting-rod is attached is from the Consequently by adjusting the eyebolt vertically the operator can regulate the lengthwise movement of the connecting-rod 7 and take up the wear of the joints without changing the relative position of the switch-points and the rails or lessen the throw or travel of the points to open or close the switch.

It will be unnecessary to discard a rockershaft to apply my improvement to a slipswitch, nor will a rocker-shaft be worthless should one or more of the depending lugs thereon be broken off, as the collar 9 can be easily shrunk on the shaft and a hole drilled therein to receive the vertically-adjustable eyebolt.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the proper form of rocker-shaft made particularly for use in connection with my improvement. As here shown, a flattened place 14 is provided in the shaft, wherein a hole 10 is drilled to receive the eyebolt and allow it to be moved freely up and down when the lock-nuts are loosened to regulate the throw of the connecting-rod.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a slip-switch, of a'rocker-shaft, a bolt vertically adjustable in said shaft, and operative connections provided between said bolt and the switchpoints, the wear and lost motion in the joints of said operative connections being taken up by the vertical adjustment of said bolt without lessening the travel of the switch-points, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a slip-switch, of a rocker-shaft having operative connections with a switch-stand, a rod connected with said switch-points, and means connecting said rod with said rocker-shaft and whereby the wear or lost motion in the oints of said rod may be`talen up without lessening the throw or travel ofthe switch-points.

3. The combination with a slip-switch, of a rocker-shaft having a hole therein, an eyebolt having a threaded shank loosely iitting in said hole, and lock-nuts on said yshank above and below said shaft, whereby said bolt can be adjusted vertically, and operative connections provided between said eyebolt and the switch-points, substantially as described.

In witness whereoi` I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, 1905.

LOUIS DUNN. Witnesses:

RICHARD PAUL, C. MACNAMARA. 

